Prompt 14: Deceptive Kindness [C4]
Pairing: Judge Turpin x Fem!OC
POV: Dual POV (OC, First & Turpin, Third)
Continuation of: Prompt 4. Darkest Night [C1], Prompt 8. Never-ending Consequences [C2], Prompt 10. Lingering Touch [C3]
A/N: I got an extra treat for you today 🤭 We get a little glimpse of this story through Turpin’s eyes - I adore writing his POV but I do it sparingly as the impact is always so intense when seeing things from his point of view while getting to be in his head for a moment 👏 And, of course, we need a dramatic reunion so we’re adding a little fear, a little darkness, and a little bit of frantic running to this 👀👌❤
Tags/TW’s: Infatuated By Her, Unwanted Thoughts/Feelings, Unwanted Touch, Fear, Being Restrained By An Unknown Man (Fearing Being Harmed), Feeling Safe With Turpin, Mutual Secret Pining, Nickname (so cute!), Being Carried, Protective/Harsh Turpin, Mentions Hating Christmas (of course he does), Dark And Gloomy, Angst With Tiniest Hint Of Fluff
Word Count: 2.1k
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Deceptive Kindness
⁛•⁛ Turpin’s POV ⁛•⁛
Miss Brimmer… Joyful, sweet, talkative little Miss Brimmer… He was incapable of casting her out of his mind. He had cursed himself for it, had bargained with himself, and lately taken to sulking. Yes, the high judge of London sulked in his gloomy library with his face contorted in a frown as he was incapable of reading the lawsuit spread across his desk with her infernally sweet face disturbing him every minute of each wretched day.
At this time of year, it was usually the infernal jolly mood and ever-chiming carols that had him occupied with the deep-seated need to snarl. Now, it was something apparently worse. A jolly, chiming, sweet and fury-inducing little woman with green eyes like the needles of a pine and a smile as bright as the midnight star.
Four days had passed since he left her at his home, not so much as a goodbye had been uttered and he had thought little of it at the time. Certainly, her energy had been warm. Obviously, her smile had been a lovely view. Her bright and loud chatter a constant and intrusive company, definitely. But warm…
He slammed his fists down and rose in a rush from the large chair. “This is madness, banish these foolish thoughts.” He knew her joy was far beyond his reach and despite being the depraved and selfish man he was, he struggled with the notion of putting out her light — trapping her to him would surely silence that joyful talkativeness that had slithered itself under his skin. It lingered, and the sound of Miss Brimmer’s constant, bright, and quick chatter echoed all around him as he marched from the library to the parlour despite her not being there.
He poured a glass of whiskey from the crystal decanter by the seating area. Beyond his windows, the bells of Christmas rang as snow flitted from the dark sky of night. He watched the fire before him, spreading a warmth he barely felt while the golden light reminded him of how you shined in the darkness of his home. Such as a star upon a Christmas tree… There had never been one in his house — a star or a Christmas tree.
He tapped his finger against the glass and took a slow sip. He remembered every word she spoke, strangely enough. He never took notice of others in such a manner, and never committed words not of the utmost importance to he himself to memory. But Miss Brimmer’s words were committed to memory — truly, burned with warmth and light into the membranes within his skull housing a dark mind usually so quiet and void of all things good.
Placing the glass back on the table, he stepped away from the fire and toward the large windows draped with wine-red velvet on either side. The darkness beyond was as deep as the dark within his home, within his heart. So it must remain. Quiet, dark, and the same as always. “Yes, the same as every damned Christm—” His eyes widened, he leaned closer to the frosty window as a running woman stumbled on her skirt and crashed against his gate in a tumble.
He tilted his head, looking down to see better. A pale hand grasped the iron of the gate, his heart revolted as the harrowed face of Miss Brimmer appeared between the bars for a second — her breath fogging in rushed bursts — before she turned her head to look back as she grasped for the handle to open his gate blindly. He staggered back a step, his heart pounded and for a second his mind struggled to comprehend what his eyes showed him.
⁛•⁛ Julianne’s POV ⁛•⁛ | A few moments earlier |
My breath fogged before me, the chill of December was biting in the dark of the late evening as I held onto the little satin bag with a tight grip and left the little shop behind as the woman by the counter wished me a Merry Christmas before the door closed. Uffh, cold and dreary, why does London feel colder than the countryside? I shivered and began my walk back toward the Rosemary Inn.
“Watch it!” a man shouted as I crossed the street and, before I knew it, I’d flung myself backwards, tripped on the slick cobblestone, and landed flatly on my back in the dirty snow. Great! Wonderful! This is absolutely a fantastic day! The Inn lost my package from Father, a horse trampled my foot, the barmaid spilt bear over my best dress, and now— “Ugh, I truly am a black cat crossing the street…”
“Miss, are you alright?” came the voice of another man, his slightly dirty face coming into view above me. “Need a helping hand?” he continued and I sighed. At least, the people are not too rude. A silver lining I assume one could call it. “Thank you, sir,” I said and reached for his slim hand flecked by soot. He helped me to my feet and I righted my dress, brushing off as much of the snow as I possibly could. “You ought to take care in the streets, miss.” “Yes, yes I ought, with my luck I shall surely be run over any minute. I am not suited for the big city, it seems.”
The man chuckled as I straightened. “Perhaps I ought to walk the lady back to her home, then?” “That is most kind of you, sir.” I took his stretched-out arm. “I must say I am surprised at how friendly London dwellers are. I have yet to meet an unkind person not willing to be of assistance.” I glanced at the man as he walked me down the street. Something was not quite right about him, though. “We are friendly people,” he said with another shallow chuckle that just did not sit right with me.
After another few steps, I came to a halt. “Thank you for your help, sir, but I can manage from here.” I released his arm but he grasped my wrist. “Sir, let go of me, please.” “I don’t think so, sweetheart.” His smile was a leer and my stomach turned at the sight of his crooked teeth. “Let go.” “No can do,” he chuckled and tugged. “A pretty piece like you is—” I wrung my wrist free. “Goodbye,” I said harshly and instantly turned.
A shriek left my lips as the man grabbed around my waist and pulled me toward the alley behind, away from the lit-up main street. “Let go! Let go!” I screamed and pushed at his arm before fear filled me and I threw my head back only to feel his nose-bone connect with my skull. He stumbled back, pulling me around with his hand stuck in the loop of the satin pouch around my wrist.
“Fuck,” he snarled with a hiss and grabbed the string by twisting his hand. “You bitch.” He tugged and I backed up at the same time, ripping the string with the pouch falling to the ground as I spun to run away. No, the gift! Leaned back and grabbed it but the man hooked his dirty fingers on my cloak and tugged. The string tightened roughly around my throat and I coughed through a gasp.
Reaching up, I grabbed the end and tugged. My throat was freed and I slipped out of the man’s grip. Before I drew another breath, I bolted. My heart roared, my limbs shook and my eyes seemed to take everything in with a blur. Run! Run! Run! Where-, where-, where do I go?!
“Get back here!” the man shouted and as I looked over my shoulder he was taking up the hunt for me. My eyes widened and dread surged through my body, fuelling my legs and forcing me to go faster. I sobbed while panting, holding onto the destroyed satin pouch with a numb grip. My feet pounded the cobblestone and snow below as I raced down the street of central London.
I took a sharp turn, seeing the shape of the man still running toward me before I kept going as tears streaked my cheeks. Despite the blurry vision, the dark town-house caught my eyes. Judge Turpin! My brain screamed and my heart eased as I threw myself forward, stumbling on the raised sidewalk and got myself flung into the iron gates with a loud rattle as my chest heaved.
Looking back I saw the man come to a sudden halt as his eyes flicked between me and the towering house while I fumbled blindly for the handle to let myself through. I found it, pulled down, and fell backwards in a heap before I managed to scramble back from the gate on my bum.
“Miss Brimmer!” came the roar of the judge whose refuge I sought. Looking back, he came rushing down the steps. “J-Judge Turpin, my-, my lord,” I choked out in a stutter as I slumped on the snow-covered stone beneath; relieved. “Miss Brimmer,” he rumbled in a harsh snarl before his large hands grasped my trembling shoulders harshly, he did not let go even as he sat me up. “Are you—” His eyes latched on my sore throat, exposed at the loss of my cloak. “What, happened?” he snarled as those steely eyes turned impossibly hard.
I gulped, taking comfort in his steady hands. “I— He—” my voice trembled too much to make sense “—grabbed me, grabbed-, grabbed-, grabbed at—” “Little light, look at me. Look. at. me,” he demanded as my eyes flicked about in a rush and adrenaline-fuelled fear. “Are you unharmed?” he asked, his voice was a low thunder which hid none of the rage hardening his entire face. “Y-yes, sir. I’m-, I’m unharmed, my lord. Thank you. Thank you, sir,” I pushed out in a rush as his grip on me softened when our eyes locked.
Judge Turpin helped me to stand, keeping a sturdy grasp of my hand before he wrapped an arm around my waist when my knees weakened beneath me. “T-thank you, sir,” I whispered, my brain turning quiet and my voice lowering as I held on to him. “I shall have their head,” he snarled under his breath and I was not sure if I had heard him right.
He led me inside, all the way to the parlour where a fire crackled and granted both light and warmth in the dark. He released my hand and I stuttered at the loss of stability, the loss of his touch, but then he dragged one of the two beautiful chairs and helped me sit right by the warmth of the flames.
I shook and trembled as the adrenaline seeped out of me and a chill so utterly dreadful crawled into me in its wake. “Little light,” he said while going down on one knee before me — grasping my shaking hands in his warm ones. “Did you see who caused you harm?” he asked, his voice that harsh thunder that seemed to roll through me. “I saw… most of him. But, he was dirty and in shadow, and I do not know who he-, he-, he—” “We shall discuss it tomorrow, when you are no longer frightened,” he said with finality. I gulped, already feeling my shoulders slump in his powerful presence. “I… am not frightened,” I managed to push out.
Judge Turpin arched a brow at me, unimpressed. “I do not take kindly to lies, Miss Brimmer.” “It is not a lie, sir… I am here, with you, safe. I am-, I am in shock, not frightened any longer,” I said, truthfully. I dared believe nothing could harm me when such a man as he was close. His nostrils flared. “You, little light, are mistaken. I am not… safety.” “Yet I feel safe, my lord…” And, a bit faint, perhaps. Yes, yes perhaps a bit out of sorts and a bit… confused… and faint…
“Deep breath, Miss Brimmer. Take a deep breath,” he ordered, squeezing my hands to catch my focus. I drew a deep breath. Ragged as it was, it was still steadying. “Good.” It was a soft word despite the deep voice. “Let us get you sorted for the night.” I nodded. “Thank you, sir…” But as I stood with his sturdy hand wrapped around one of my smaller ones, there was no stability beneath my feet and the world swayed. I reached up to my head, trying to focus my gaze by pressing against my forehead but there was little I could do to stop my knees from buckling and my body from sagging.
He caught me. A sturdy arm around my waist while his other hand still gripped mine. “Easy, easy now,” he said quietly and there was something deadly in the tone of it. “S-sir… I…” But I could not get the words out when the world turned darker by the second. “Miss— Little light,” he said rapidly as I collapsed in his hold. The world slowly faded as I was hoisted up into strong arms against a broad chest with a thundering heart.
To Be Continued...
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NEXT PART » Prompt 16: Thoughtful gifts [C5]
A/N: Well well well, I guess I have a thing for fainting women, huh? 🙈 Also, isn’t Turpin just the harshly-sweetest?! 😩👌 I’m adoring how he’s withheld and torturing himself with the whole situation rather than just taking what he wants as he usually does 👀🤭
I haven't gotten far on tomorrow's fic - I'm only about 500 words in - but hopefully,y I'll have time to finish it up later tonight so it's ready to go up early tomorrow 🥰👏 And Christmas is near now, we have celebrations with family over from the 20th to the 25th (hosting for both sides of the family this year too so I have so much to prepare 😅) but I feel good about this years Rickmas and how it's going so far so hopefully I can get ahead during this weekend and get a lot of writing done! 🙈❤
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